Howdy Neighbors!

Here's your morning farm news headlines from the Director of Farm Programming for the Radio Oklahoma Network, Ron Hays. We are pleased to have American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual Insurance Company as a regular sponsor of our daily update- click here to go to their AFR web site to learn more about their efforts to serve rural America!

It is also great to have as an annual sponsor on our daily email Johnston Enterprises- proud to be serving agriculture across Oklahoma and around the world since 1893. W.B. Johnston is welcoming all fall crops this harvest. They have space to store your grain, and they look forward to serving you!! For more on Johnston Enterprises- click here for their website that features their grain, ports and seed business!

And we are proud to have P & K Equipment/ P & K Wind Energy as one of our regular sponsors of our daily email update. P & K is the premiere John Deere dealer in Oklahoma, with ten locations to serve you, and the P & K team are excited about their new Wind Power program, as they offer Endurance Wind Power wind turbines. Click here for more from the P&K website.

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While October has gotten off to a fairly cool start, the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) sees an increased chance for warmer- and drier-than-normal weather in Oklahoma during October. Looking farther out, the CPC indicates similar conditions could persist through the winter months, meaning a milder but possibly drier winter for Oklahoma. The culprit behind this possible disruption of Oklahoma's weather is none other than El Niño's counterpart, La Niña.

La Niña occurs when sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific become cooler than normal. Much like El Niño, this cooling of sea surface temperatures can influence weather around the globe, including that of the United States. Impacts from La Niña include the tendency for a warmer and drier cool season in the southern United States, along with cooler and wetter conditions in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. The current La Niña is expected to continue strengthening and remain in place throughout the 2010-11 winter season.

La Niña's impacts on Oklahoma's economy can be significant. A warmer and drier cool season can have adverse effects on Oklahoma's agricultural industry. With the planting of next year's wheat crop underway, moisture becomes a key ingredient for establishing that crop and developing it through to maturity. That wheat can also be used to provide forage during the winter months for cattle producers. Unfortunately, Oklahoma's key wheat-producing areas are beginning to see dry conditions spread due to below normal rainfall over the last couple of months. Rainfall deficits due to La Niña's influence would come at an inopportune time. Another negative impact of warmer and drier conditions is a possible increase in wildfires, which the state saw during the dry winter of 2005-06.
The weather folks remind us all that this does not mean we won't have any rain events- just that we will likely be facing less than normal rainfall in the months to come.

Click here for a national map showing precipitation prospects for the month of October- Oklahoma is right in the middle of that below normal bullseye

We discuss this request by Congress with the Chief Economist of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Gregg Doud. We also talk with Gregg about what he thinks USDA may discover if they look under the hood of this proposed rule from the viewpoint of the economic impact it may carry with it.

We posted this interview that we did on Tuesday morning as an Ag Perspectives Podcast on our website- you can click on the LINK below and check it out. Our Ag Perspectives Podcasts are also available thru Itunes, along with our Morning Farm News from the Radio Oklahoma Network as well as the Beef Buzz, also heard daily on RON.

Click here to jump to our webstory with Gregg Doud of the NCBA to hear his take on an economic analysis of the GIPSA Rule.

According to Stallman - passage of estate tax relief is the most important tax issue for farmers and ranchers. Farm Bureau supports a five-million dollar exemption and top rate of 35-percent. The group also supports continuation of the 15-percent capital gains tax rate. He says increased capital gains taxes would have a severe impact on farmers and ranchers because the average amount of capital gains they report is about 50-percent higher than the average taxpayer and represents 20-percent of the total adjusted gross income reported by farm households.

Finally - Farm Bureau is opposed to individual tax rate increases. Stallman says most farmers and ranchers file taxes as individuals. Any increase in individual income tax rates - he says - will impact their businesses and the disposable income they have. Stallman notes the farm and ranch sector can help stimulate the economy, assist those in need and preserve open space when agricultural producers' incomes allow them to do more than just cover necessary expenses.
The American Farm Bureau Board has been meeting this week in Washington- Mike Spradling represents Oklahoma on that body as the State President of the OFB.

"We are honored to again have WFEC as a partner in recognizing the outstanding achievements of our states youth," Trey Lam, President of OACD said. "These students work hard in preparing their speeches, posters and essays. The support of WFEC gives us a chance to better recognize their achievements."

Open to students from all areas of Oklahoma, the WFEC Youth Conservation Contests include categories for both high school and grade school students. These contestants research the conservation topic chosen each year and then write essays, develop speeches or create posters to expand on the conservation theme for that year.

Click here for more details about getting involved in the Youth Contests organized by the OACD.

Keynote speakers will be Michele Payn-Knoper and Karen Hill. A certified speaking professional, Knoper of Cause Matters Corp. has become a nationally known spokesperson and advocate for agriculture in recent years, and a leader in the use of social media who can explain "350 million reasons why agriculture needs to be engaged." Her keynote session will focus on the people, promise and passion of agriculture.
"I encourage the ladies to consider different ways to celebrate what is important about our industry, lifestyle and legacy," she said. "I'll warn everybody that, as part of that, we will be doing some kickboxing. It underscores that we are in a fight to get the word out about the importance of what we do, and provides a bit of comedic relief as well."

Hill, president of Training Professionals Inc., will provide participants insights gleaned from her 30 years in training and working with all types of businesses and clients, from OSU and the University of Oklahoma to state agencies, banks and "nearly every type of organization in between."
"I'll be focusing on how 'Yesterday's Peacock is Tomorrow's Feather Duster,' which is about the rapid pace of change, how it impacts us and what we need to do to stay current in a continually evolving society and marketplace," Hill said.

Click here for more details and info on how you can register by the early registration deadline and save $10 doing so.

This is the third arrest in a short time frame of suspects believed to be involved in multiple thefts of cattle, he said. Special Agents continue to investigate to determine other thefts these subjects may have committed. Other recent arrests have involved subjects in Woodward, Jefferson and Love Counties.

"The evidence found so far in this investigation indicates these subjects have been stealing cattle for some time," Grimes said.

Special Agent Captain Jerry Flowers, working with the Hughes County Undersheriff Doug Sipes, recovered the stolen cattle which were valued at $14,000. The cattle were branded, which assisted in the identification and recovery of the cattle.

Anyone with information regarding theft of livestock, agricultural equipment, trailers or other items are encouraged to contact their county sheriff department and the ODAFF Investigative Services Unit at (405) 522-6104.

Here's some more details about the investigative unit that is housed in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture

"Wild, feral hogs are causing tremendous damage across the landscape of Texas," Commissioner Staples said. "With more hogs coming to Texas October 9, in the form of Arkansas Razorbacks, all Texas landowners are encouraged to step up and do their part to reduce the number of feral hogs and protect our state from further damage. Texas Aggies will try to do their part at Cowboys Stadium this Saturday. The Aggies may have their hands full with the Arkansas Razorback variety, but just like Texas landowners, we all must keep fighting until we defeat these depredating animals. Go Texas landowners, Go Aggies, and let's all work to Get the Hog Outta Texas during Hog Out Month."

Commissioner Staples kicked off a county challenge to reduce the number of hogs by legal means. The challenge, which has recruited nearly 60 counties so far, will run through October 31. A grant will be given to the counties with the most hogs removed. Click on the LINK below and you can check out the Texas gameplan of fighting feral hogs in their state.

Click here to read more about the Texas Plan to Root Out Feral Hogs in Their State.

We also invite you to check out our website at the link below to check out an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.

Click here to check out WWW.OklahomaFarmReport.Com

Here are some links we will leave in place on an ongoing basis- Click on the name of the report to go to that link:
Our Daily Market Wrapup from the Radio Oklahoma Network with Ed Richards and Tom Leffler- analyzing the Futures Markets from the previous Day-
Ron on RON Markets as heard on K101 mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
Previous Day's Wheat Market Recap- Two Pager From The Kansas City Board of Trade looks at all three US Wheat Futures Exchanges with extra info on Hard Red Winter Wheat and the why of that day's market.
Daily Oklahoma Cash Grain Prices- As Reported by the Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture. <
The National Daily Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
The National Daily Slaughter Cattle Summary- as prepared by USDA.
Finally, Here is the Daily Volume and Price Summary from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.